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From bedroom to boardroom: 20 years building a provincial PR agency

The same year that Facebook launched, Shrek the Sheep was rescued from the southern highlands and the final episode of Friends aired, Heather Claycomb launched a PR agency – HMC - from her spare bedroom in Hamilton in 2004. Armed with nothing more than a gifted laptop and a miniature Nokia phone that sported the latest in Snake Game technology, Claycomb walked away from her full-time agency role and took the plunge into consulting. Two decades later, HMC is the only three-time winner...

Proliferation of AI and the rise of mis- and disinformation is affecting media and how businesses communicate through it

Pattrick Smellie, founding editor of BusinessDesk, recently joined HMC managing director Heather Claycomb and senior account manager Kate Webber on the agency’s CRUNCH podcast to discuss changes happening in the media landscape and what they mean for business. A huge change affecting media has been the rise of AI in the past few years. Pattrick says, “I do wonder how artificial intelligence is going to affect the media landscape.  Our industry is starting to use artificial int...

NZ media landscape is changing, businesses need to adapt

New Zealand’s media landscape is changing at break-neck pace.   NewsHub is closing.  Stuff is taking over the 6pm TV3 news.  TVNZ has announced major programmes being axed and jobs are going.  Plus, community newspapers which have served their small regions since mid last century – such as Hauraki Herald – are no more. Pattrick Smellie, founding editor of BusinessDesk, recently joined HMC managing director Heather Claycomb and senior account manager Kate ...

Organic product proven to increase plant root mass and shoot growth by 26% launched in New Zealand.

Kiwi-born farmer, Ian Rew has launched a new ground-breaking, BioGro certified organic chitin-based product for growers in New Zealand, named Flamingro, which has been proven to increase plant root mass and shoot growth by 26%.Chitin (pronounced KAI-TIN), a natural chain of glucose molecules that are structurally related to cellulose, is normally found in the shells of crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and insects.Backed by 30 years of extensive research, development, testing and real-world use from his ...

Is pasture still enough? Changing our approach to dairy herd nutrition

By Grant Jackson, General Manager SealesWinslowIn the coming years, the New Zealand dairy industry will face growing pressure to evolve its approach to herd nutrition. While our pasture-based systems are the foundation of our international competitive advantage, there is a growing realisation that pasture may not be the whole story to enable farmers to meet immediate and future challenges.We are all well versed in what those challenges are. Environmental obligations that require us to produce mo...

PR agency HMC adds grunt to digital content creation team

Public relations and communications agency HMC has appointed Anna Clausen and Gabriel Renner as Senior Digital PR Content Creator and Junior Digital PR Content Creator, respectively.  Bringing a diverse range of skills with them, Anna and Gabriel work in tandem to produce dynamic content for a range of clients and digital platforms.  HMC managing director Heather Claycomb says the agency’s investment in digital content creation resource demonstrates the importance of visual...

Is our dairy herd fertility in crisis?

In dairy farming, herd fertility reigns supreme. It's the lifeblood of a successful operation, directly impacting genetic gain, farmer profitability, and reducing environmental impact by breeding cows that last longer in the herd.  Yet, despite the plethora of advancements in reproductive technologies and management practices, the national average six-week in-calf rate has stagnated at around 66% for the past seven years, according to the NZ Dairy Statistics 2022/23.Fonterra’s commitment ...

New digital decision-making tool helps dairy farmers maximise returns on feed.

SealesWinslow has launched an easy-to-use digital decision-making tool that is helping dairy farmers take the guess work out of feeding their herds and use their supplements more efficiently to maximise returns.Ruminix³ by SealesWinslow is a science-based tool tailored to New Zealand’s pasture-based farming operations. Used by SealesWinslow at no cost to farmers, it compares the effects of feed combinations on milk production based on the variables of each farm’s unique system. Ruminix³ as...

Good George opens doors to Kiwi whisky entrepreneurs

Good George has unveiled its eagerly anticipated whisky program called The People’s Cut, the first of its kind in New Zealand. The program gives whisky lovers an opportunity to own or have a share in their very own barrel of whisky, cultivating a unique flavour profile and reaping the financial rewards in as few as five years – the minimal barrel ageing time for a world-class, single malt whisky. With craft whisky currently riding a wave of popularity across the globe, the People�...

Unlocking the nutrition from a bumper maize silage harvest

With farmers having a bumper maize silage season this year, how it is harvested and managed will be crucial to preserving its quality and unlocking its nutritional value.Cyclone Gabrielle and atrocious weather decimated a lot of last year’s maize crops. Fast forward 12 months and the Central and Northern North Island have produced excellent crops with farmers expecting yields in the high 20 tonnes per hectare, according to Pioneer Farm Systems Manager Wade Bell who recently presented to the Se...

MSD Animal Health partners with Agrecovery to pilot recycling 10,000 cow collars

MSD Animal Health New Zealand has partnered with Agrecovery in New Zealand’s first pilot to recycle SenseHub Dairy Collars (previously known as Allflex Collars) used by its dairy farmer clients.The initial pilot project is set to recycle 10,000 cow collars that have reached the end of their battery life this year and will provide a template for recycling all types of e-waste off farms as digital, data driven farming becomes common place.Cow collars are increasingly used by New Zealand farmers ...

Using herd nutrition to beat the heat and protect milk production

As scorching summer temperatures persist, what dairy farmers feed their cows can help beat the heat and protect milk production.2023 was already one of New Zealand’s hottest years on record. NIWA’s latest outlook says the El Niño weather pattern, which has brought temperatures in their high thirties and marine heat waves across New Zealand, will continue until at least March.SealesWinslow Nutrition and Quality Manager Paul Drew says dairy farmers traditionally deal with a decline in pasture...

FE spore counts climb in record hot and humid conditions

As New Zealand swelters in record hot and humid conditions, dairy farmers need to be more vigilant than usual against Facial Eczema (FE) as spore counts climb.According to reports from Gribbles Veterinary, national spore counts that cause the devastating disease more than doubled between 6 and 15 February 2024.CRV National Sales and Marketing Manager and vet, Julia Baynes, says the record high temperatures and humidity of this season is creating a perfect breeding ground for the fungus responsib...

Memory Meadow to serve as long-lasting legacy for cancer patients

A joint initiative between Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Hamilton City Council and Lodge Real Estate will see a vibrant new space created in the CBD to acknowledge Hamiltonians who have been affected by cancer. Over the winter months, there will be a densely planted field of daffodils growing in Hinemoa Park on the corner of Rostrevor Street and Seddon Road, set to bloom in time for Daffodil Day at the end of August.  The field will be known as Memory Meadow and is coming to fr...

Tree Choice crucial under National’s Indigenous Biodiversity Rules

As National Environmental Standards for Indigenous Biodiversity loom on the horizon for farmers, planting the right trees in the right place has never been more important says Rachael Mitchell, the first agricultural consultant certified in both nutrient management and forestry advisory in New Zealand.A Perrin Ag Senior Consultant, Rachael says the Indigenous Biodiversity Standards, introduced in August 2023, will be rolled out by district councils over the next couple of years and farmers have ...

The Next Frontier: Tech-Savvy Young Farmers Leading the Charge for Efficient Agriculture

As New Zealand farmers continue to navigate economic struggles, inflationary pressures, and the ever-looming unpredictability of our weather patterns, technology to drive on-farm efficiency will chart our industry’s future course.The agricultural sector has often been characterised as resistant to change with the average age of our farmers about 67. Many still maintain they are not technologically savvy, despite having more technology in their dairy sheds and tractors than ever before. There i...

Gallagher fencing solution slashes sea lion attacks on Chilean salmon farms by 70%

An innovative fencing solution developed by Gallagher in Chile has reduced sea lion attacks on some salmon farms by 70%, saving the country’s US$6.5 billion salmon industry millions of dollars in fish and financial losses.   The technology keeps farmed salmon contained and prevents sea lion attacks on the fisheries. It was developed by Gallagher in partnership with pioneering Chilean aquaculture company, Mowi Chile.Gallagher is now working closely with global salmon farming company T...

Plan now as El Niño summer heightens FE risk

The anticipated El Niño summer is expected to heighten the risk of Facial Eczema (FE). While farmers are well aware of the crucial role zinc plays in combatting FE, their investment could be wasted if it’s not delivered in the right dose, at the right time, alongside other preventative measures. With FE reported to cost individual farmers more than $100,000 a year in lost milk production, SealesWinslow Consultant Nutritionist Paul Sharp says getting a preventative plan ready now will hel...

The rise of the influencer

Go back 30 years, most of us were happy enough watching adverts on our TVs. Companies shamelessly peddled their wares, and it had the desired cause-and-effect: the more they promoted, the more we bought.  Then we stopped responding. Not immediately, but the buying numbers steadily dropped, regardless of how incessant the adverts. The issue was trust. We no longer believed anything and everything the marketers told us, and ‘mute’ became the most worn button on the TV remote. Th...

Surviving a business crisis

In the event of a fire, every business knows what to do. When the alarm sounds, the person designated as the fire warden heads for the clipboard while everyone quickly evacuates to the safety assembly point outside. How does everyone know what to do? First, the protocols are clearly laid out. Second, businesses practise the drill at least once a year.However, when it comes to business-related crises, most companies have little or no plan for managing the upheaval. It’s true, most businesses wi...

Morrinsville man becomes youngest leader at SealesWinslow

Morrinsville local Ashley Taylder (25) has become SealesWinslow’s youngest people leader, rising from forklift driver to Production Manager in just five years. Now, he is encouraging other young people to strive for their goals.Despite his relatively young age, Ashley has proven his worth at SealesWinslow and earned the respect of his colleagues, leading a team of 13 at the animal nutrition company’s Morrinsville plant.“I think when you get clear on what you want and you have a goal in min...

Herd testing reveals rising BVD cases in Waikato

The Waikato region is currently experiencing a concerning surge in Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) cases within dairy herds, with the highly contagious disease potentially causing significant economic losses for farmers.Bulk milk testing, conducted by herd improvement companies before the mating season to assess herd health, has revealed a significantly higher number of Waikato herds testing positive for the BVD virus compared to the previous season.Vet and CRV National Sales and Marketing Manager ...

Winning the War for Talent

As one year comes to a close and we stare down the barrel of 2024, many companies will be assessing their teams and their skill needs. In the current employment market, there isn’t enough talent to go around, and employers are fighting to attract and retain good people.  A March 2023 EMA survey found that 9 out of 10 New Zealand companies are struggling.   Job seekers know they are now in control. Many are approaching job interviews with a clear idea of the kind of pla...

Empowering Agriculture's Next Generation

When New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year Emma Poole became the first woman to win the title in the event’s 55-year history this year she also shone a light on a path less trodden for women all over Aotearoa.While she may have shattered the grass ceiling, it's no secret that farming in New Zealand is still primarily seen as a male-dominated industry.This perception influences young women as they contemplate their future careers and higher education after high school. Ask most teenagers what fa...

Nailing heat detection will help protect South Island farmers’ profitability

With mating underway for most South Island dairy farmers, getting heat detection right will be the linchpin of reproductive success and crucial for protecting bottom lines.“Getting cows in-calf quickly can significantly impact a farmer’s profitability while simplifying farm management,” says CRV National Sales Manager and veterinarian Julia Baynes.“Cow fertility is the cornerstone of every dairy farm business, so it’s imperative dairy farmers have a comprehensive heat detection plan in...